In My Space – COLUMN 6 – MEDICAL PROCEDURE

by Peggy Gandy

By Peggy Gandy

A doctor’s visit takes careful planning and scheduling. You can’t just get sick and expect to get in to see a doctor right away. That’s not the way it works. When you call to make an appointment a receptionist who has been specially trained in ‘scheduling’, puts you on hold while she consults her appointment book and clicks around on her computer. When she comes back on the line she gives you the happy news that he has an opening in two months at 7:30 a.m. The doctor doesn’t get in until 9:00 a.m. but this would put you first in line along with two other 7:30 a.m. patients she has already scheduled.

When your appointed day finally arrives, you check in with a clerk who is only interested in your insurance papers and could care less if you’re suffering from for an enlarged wart or kidney failure. She makes copies of everything in your wallet, including your library and voter’s registration card and hands you a clipboard holding a stack of papers to either fill out or sign where she has marked a yellow ‘x’. You sign everything, not knowing if you’ve just willed your body to science or accepted liability for the other six people in the waiting room. No matter how carefully you check every question, when you hand the questionnaires back, she’ll point out the backs of six pages you missed. You get so confused you’ll fill in the place of employment and back injury for a spouse you don’t even have.

She then tells you to take a seat and someone will call you “in a few minutes’’. Yeah sure. You notice on the sign in sheet under ‘time of arrival’, two people signed in yesterday and are still sitting there – sort of. After thumbing through old Sports Illustrated magazines, e-mailing everyone you know and listening to Judge Judy’s tongue lashing for an hour your name is finally called.

First you have to be weighed. Since the nurse only bothers to record your blood pressure, you wonder if the price of the scales is discounted by the number of times somebody steps on them.

Finally you are escorted into a stark examination room with two chairs and an examination table covered in white paper. Pictures of the digestive system plaster one wall and a cranium diagram hangs on the back of the door. Just when you think everyone has left on a lunch break, a second nurse steps in to check your pulse to see if you’re still breathing. Then DRUM ROLL, the doctor walks in. Wasting very little precious time on pleasantries, he begins to ask questions and starts jotting things down in your file, rarely ever looking up. The prognosis. You need to have some tests run before he can make a diagnosis. After a few more pleasantries, he shakes your hand and heads out the door. His nurse comes in with a date for the lab work and tells you to fast for two days. She then shows you the way back out in case you’re an idiot and can’t read the exit signs.

ANIMAL WELFARE

The second annual OK Human Hero Awards Gala drew 300 animal lovers. Presented by Petco Foundation, the fundraiser at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, reached a high energy level. Fun, enthusiasm, conversation, live music and generous bidding made the evening outstanding. The Fleuriste created a stunning life size mobile of topiary-like animals hanging from the chandelier. Table centerpieces of roses, hyacinths and tulips in a variety of containers, were stunning, and gave an ‘uptown’ ambience to the seated dinner in the formal dining room.

Pet heroes were Kate, a rescue lab who helped save Don Bozien’s life after his critical illness and three months stay in the hospital; Faith, a rescue dog who learned to walk on two back legs and spent much of her life spreading hope to others with disabilities and Daisy a cat who became a foster mom to more than one litter of fragile kittens despite the wear and tear on her body.

Sheryl Colton and Jim Klepper were co-chairmen. Top sponsors were Sue Ann Arnall, Louise and Clay Bennett and Colton and Associates. Some of the guests were Dick and Linda Wegener, Don Bobzien and Gracie Moyers, Tricia Everest, Barry Switzer, Roberta and Dr. Don Carter, former Gov. George and Donna Nigh, David Tarpenning, Suzy and Brent Estill, Pat and Ray Potts, Shannon and Sam Presti, Louise and Clay Bennett, Dudley and Sue Ann Hyde, Gerald and Susan Marshall and Alex and Ann Cameron.

ORCHIDS IN OCTOBER

James R. Morley is the recipient of the 2015 James R. Tolbert III Crystal Orchid Award. The award is given annually to someone who significantly impacts the beauty and success of the Myriad Botanical Gardens and Oklahoma City. The celebration will take place Oct. 15 at 11:30 on the Myriad Gardens Water Stage followed by a luncheon in the McGee Education Center.

WILD AND WOOLY

Red Earth’s annual Buffalo Bash & Wild West Showdown is scheduled for Nov. 5 at the Will Rogers Theatre & Event Center. The evening will feature food, cocktails, dancing to the Lightning Creek Band, raffles, games and prizes. Paula McClellan Cagigal and Jim VanDeman are co-chairmen.